What does actress Lee Meriwether most remember from her classes with Lee Strasberg?
Meriwether won the Miss America crown,which in turn led to a stint on the “Today” show, covering fashion and lifestyle stories. She used the scholarship money she received as winner to take private acting classes with Lee Strasberg. At that point in time, Strasberg was the best known acting coach ever and had equally famous clients. Despite this, what Mereiwether “most remembers from the classes is that he told them not to copy the famous method actors, Marlon Brando or Geraldine Page, but encouraged them to build their own method and persona.” She used that advice in her audition to play Catwoman in the 1966 Batman movie. She says she realized she use her looks to win the role. Thus, in an effort to make herself stand out from the crowd, she adopted cat-like mannerism at her audition, curlig up in a big armchair where she “proceeded to lick her hands and knead them. And she lowered her voice into a sexy growl. It won her the part.” Sources:
When Lee Meriwether takes the stage in Reagle Players’ production of “Mame,” it won’t be the first time she has played Mame Dennis. She played her twice in the mid-to-late 1970s, some 20 years after she first stepped into the national spotlight by winning the Miss America Pageant in 1955, which led to an extremely active television and film career. At 74, she’s still very beautiful and a workhorse. She used her scholarship money she earned from the Miss America Pageant to take private acting classes with Lee Strasberg. What she most remembers from the classes is that he told them not to copy the famous method actors, Marlon Brando or Geraldine Page, but encouraged them to build their own method and persona. Sources: http://www.wickedlocal.
When Lee Meriwether takes the stage in Reagle Players’ production of “Mame,” it won’t be the first time she has played Mame Dennis. She played her twice in the mid-to-late 1970s, some 20 years after she first stepped into the national spotlight by winning the Miss America Pageant in 1955, which led to an extremely active television and film career. At 74, she’s still very beautiful and a workhorse. “She’s such fun,” said Meriwether of Mame. “She’s an amazing character, the most flamboyant woman I can imagine.” Mame is a madcap bohemian who becomes the guardian for her 10-year-old nephew when his father dies. She takes him on a series of adventures, and when she loses her wealth in the Great Depression she undertakes various jobs with considerable comic effect. The musical’s book was written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee (based on the 1955 novel “Auntie Mame” by Patrick Dennis and on the subsequent play and film versions). The music and lyrics were written by Jerry Herman. “Jerry
